#6. UBTECH Unicornbot

Price:  ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
Functionality:  ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
Quality:  ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ 

For children who are ever-curious about the world of robots and how they’re made, the UBTECH Unicornbot is a toy they will never get bored with. The educational unicorn comes with a coding kit that helps children understand the basics of simple programming in a fun and engaging way.

The UBTECH comes with 440 pieces to assemble. While this toy is better suited for older children, kids of any age can have fun putting it together with the help of parents or guardians.

With the Blockly app, a simple programming smartphone application, anyone can customize the unicorn’s gestures, sounds, and appearance.

Pros and Cons of the UBTECH Unicornbot

Pros	Cons
✔️ Introduces the basics of programming ✔️ Buildable and customizable ✔️ Interactive features ✔️ Affordable ✔️ Comes with a free app	✖️ May require the help and guidance of an adult

#7. FurReal Friends Roarin’ Tyler

Price:  ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
Functionality:  ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
Quality:  ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ 

Who hasn’t dreamed of owning a pet tiger? The FurReal Friends Roarin’ Tyler brings the jungle to your home in the form of a cuddly, interactive plush toy. Give your younger loved one the joy of owning their very own wild animal — in stuffed toy robot form, of course.

The FurReal Friends tiger is programmed with over a hundred lifelike sound and movement combinations that make playing with it more immersive and enjoyable. If you roar at it, it’ll roar back, with a little bow to let you know that it doesn’t mean any harm.

Pros and Cons of the FurReal Friends Roarin’ Tyler

Pros	Cons
✔️ Huggable and soft ✔️ Includes a play toy ✔️ Multiple sounds ✔️ Interacts with your voice	✖️ Movements can be repetitive

Are Robot Pets Good?

The concept of robotic animals might seem a little sci-fi, but there are plenty that is used in everyday life. These pets range from robotic toys to realistic therapy pets given to patients in elderly care facilities.

There’s no doubt that having a pet or a toy to play with, robotic or not, can be a source of entertainment and joy. But the benefits of pet robots actually extend to our physical, emotional, and mental state, too.

Plenty of data shows that robotic dogs can decrease feelings of stress, anxiety, and loneliness in aging adults. They’re also shown to reduce the risk of heart disease by encouraging their owners to participate in more physical activities, such as walking and grooming their pets.

Another benefit of having a robotic pet over a real one is convenience. You don’t need to put in hours just to get your dog to stop pooping on the carpet, or spend too much on emergency vet bills. Instead, you get a low-maintenance robotic toy that brings just as much joy and warmth into the family. Health can also play a huge factor. Plenty of households develop allergies to pet dander and pet hair — and not everyone can afford a high-quality vacuum. Synthetic hair found in most robotic animals offer a gentler alternative.

How Much Does a Robot Pet Cost?

One advantage that robotic pets have are their accessibility. It’s true that Spot the Robot Dog might be a little out of the budget for the average consumer, but there are plenty of awesome alternatives at almost every price point.

Buying Guide: What Considerations To Look For When Buying the Best Robotic Pet

Pet robots offer a wide variety of benefits, both physical and mental, to the family. However, it’s important to choose the right one for your needs and wants. Do you prefer an interactive robot dog with more skills and tricks than a real pet? Or maybe you want a robot companion that’s closer in appearance to a live dog, without all the jazz of technology and remote control? 

These are just a few of the things one needs to consider when making a decision.

Realism, Look, and Aesthetics

First on our list is the look of your robotic animal. Often, we might expect robotic pets to look exactly like real-life animals. However, realistic features are hard to come by. The ones who do have them are usually expensive. 

Instead, what you’ll find in pet robots is a compromise: they’ll have synthetic hair to emulate one of a real pet, but won’t have, say, a hyperactive tail or the wet nose of a real pet. Others will look more robotic altogether: hard metal casing, no hair or stuffed insides. But these pet robots are usually better at performing stunts.

Price, Value, and Budget

One perk of a robotic dog over a real puppy or kitten is the price. You’ll spend more upfront, but that’s the only time you’ll do it apart from replacing batteries. The concern is how much you’re willing to spend on a pet robot. 

A pricier one will have more tricks, features, and a realistic appearance compared to a more budget-friendly pet robot. Not to mention, the pricier robotic animals and pets tend to last longer as well.

Use, Ease, and Functionality

A pet robot requires a lot less responsibility than an actual one. You won’t have to spend hours, weeks, or months training it because all of its features are programmed. However, make sure to get the right one for your target audience. 

By this, we mean that if you’re purchasing an interactive robot puppy for a 3-year-old, make sure that its features are accessible enough that the child can operate them. Don’t buy a robot dog or pet that is too complicated for its owner. Remember, the best robot dog toys or pets don’t always need to be fancy with features and tech.

Interactive Features, Gestures, and Skills

As is the case with many toys, children get bored easily. That’s an advantage real pets have: you can always teach them new tricks. You can’t exactly do the same with a robotic pet. 

Luckily, there are many options out there for almost every interaction level. Most robot pets are equipped with touch sensors that activate a certain movement, so when you hug or pet them, they bark, meow, or roar.

The most basic features you should be set on when looking for the perfect pet robot are two things: sight and sound. A good pet robot will return affection when petted by the owner, either by making a sound, purring, wagging its tail, or even laughing. 

Great pet robots do well with voice commands and even respond when you call them by their programmed name. Try to go through a list of the functions and tricks of certain pets and see what you like about them.

Durability

This is another important factor in choosing your pet robot. Since you’ll be using and interacting with your pet robot for long hours in the foreseeable future, a good one should be made of durable material that doesn’t easily scratch, break, or malfunction. One way to ensure this is by buying your pet robot from a reputable company, checking product reviews, and also being careful when handling the toy.

Material

Robotic pets often come in two types of material: plastic and metal. Hard plastic is much cheaper, but it’s also less protective than a metallic body. For children, hard plastic might be a better option if they’re prone to being heavy-handed with their toys.

The coarseness of the material is just as crucial. Whether you’re buying a pet robot for an adult or a child, it’s important that there are no pinching points, sharp edges, or rough material that may be uncomfortable to use. This might be a little tricky to determine since most people are purchasing online, so once again we suggest filtering through user reviews.

Power Options

Usually, pet robots have one of two power sources: lithium-ion batteries or USB recharging. The idea behind choosing the suitable power option is convenience as well as budget. Battery-operated toys are often much cheaper upfront but have the added costs of battery replacements over time. Although, there are models that come with a rechargeable battery. A lot of robotic dog toys and pets nowadays come with a rechargeable battery so it should be quite easy to find these.

On the other hand, USB rechargeable pet robots can be of a higher price point but rarely need replacements. However, they usually need charging every few hours, unlike batteries. If your child is always on the go and plans to bring their pet robot everywhere, then a battery-powered one might be more suitable because of the eliminated need to recharge and the need to bring a USB cable.

For this to work, however, you will need to look at pet robots with long battery life. It’s also a plus if your robot dog or choice of pet has a power-saving function or sleep mode. This will help cut down the need to charge batteries in the long run.

Age Group

Most robot animals are designed for two age groups: children of school age or the elderly. Those built for a younger market often have basic interactive features which can be accessed remotely. They also feature novel stunts, such as singing, dancing, running, and so on. They’re much more complex and can respond to voice commands.

On the other hand, a robotic pet developed for an older person is generally more realistic-looking but lacks the fancy tricks of a toy pet. These companion pet robots are also larger in size, feel warmer to the touch, and have unique sensors to make them more realistic, like a touch-activated heartbeat.

Limitations and Warranty

As a failsafe in case your pet robot fails to work after purchase, check if your product is covered by a warranty option or not. Most reputable companies offer one-year warranties, others longer. It’s good practice to check for the brand’s customer service options.